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SCHENECTADY — Clinton County Mariners head coach John Flynn had a hunch Friday morning.

He inserted Casey Letourneau as the designated-hitter in the Mariners' opening-round game against the Tri-County Eagles in the District IV American Legion baseball playoffs.

The move paid off as Letourneau rapped out three hits, including a game-winning RBI single with one out in the bottom of the 11th inning, to give the Mariners an 8-7 win.

The victory sends Clinton County into tonight's 7 p.m. winner's bracket game against the winner of this morning's game between Anaconda and Malone. That contest was rained out Friday night.

"This is the one we needed because we didn't want to get into the loser's bracket," Flynn said.

"We battled — South Glens Falls (Tri-County) is very competitive and a lot like us."

With the game tied at 7-all entering the bottom of the 11th, Brett Bosley singled, Kyle Rascoe was hit by a pitch, Will Flynn put down a sacrifice bunt and Letourneau delivered his game-winning RBI single to left field.

"With Alex (LaFountain) starting on the mound for us, I was going to use a hitter for him and I had a hunch about Letourneau," Flynn said. "It worked out well for us.

"But, you have to give Rascoe a ton of credit. He had four hits and was on base all six times up. He had a great game."

The Mariners trailed, 1-0, when they scored two runs in the second to take a 2-1 advantage when Rascoe rapped a RBI double and Flynn a run-scoring single.

Rascoe then added a RBI single in the third for a 3-1 lead.

Tri-County came back with two in the fourth and two in the sixth for a 5-3 advantage, only to have the Mariners tally three runs in the home half of the sixth for a 6-5 edge.

Pat Shaughnessy walked to force in a run and Jordan Keysor delivered a two-run single.

Aaron Tenbuuren's two-out RBI triple in the seventh gave the Mariners a 7-6 lead before Tri-County tallied a run in the eighth to eventually force extra innings.

"We would get the lead and they would keep coming back," Flynn said. "They hit the ball pretty well and took some chances on the bases. But, we made all the plays."

LaFountain pitched into the seventh inning and Josh Powers ended up getting the win in relief of Matt Seymour.

"Nothing comes easy for Alex," Flynn said. "But, he grinded it out.

"Powers, however, should get the Purple Heart. He took a line drive off the stomach, threw the guy out and then struck out the next batter."

The Mariners finished with a 15-11 edge in hits, with Rascoe getting four, Letourneau three and both Matt Leta and Will Flynn, two apiece.

"It was a good day," John Flynn said. "We won the game we needed to win to begin the playoffs, I took my family to the Golden Corral and I won the coin flip for the 12th time in a row."

—

Mariners 8, Tri-County 7 (11)

Tri-County 100 202 110 00 — 7 11 0

Mariners 021 003 100 01 — 8 15 0

Jenkins, Smith (7), Hokk (8) and Caswell. LaFountain, Seymour (7), Powers (8) and Buksa. WP- Powers. LP- Hokk. 2B- Rascoe (M), Greene (TC), Goarie (TC), LaPoint (TC). 3B- Tenbuuren (M).